Pollution free discharging and quenching system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for receiving a cake of hot coke from a selected one of a battery of coke ovens and for transporting the coke to a remote coke quenching station in an essentially pollution-free manner includes a vehicle adapted to be driven to a selected coke oven and thence to the coke quenching station. A housing is carried on the vehicle for receiving a cake of hot coke from an oven, the interior dimensions of the housing conforming substantially to the interior dimensions of the selected oven. The housing has grated side walls to expose a substantial portion of a coke cake disposed therein to the spray generated at the coke quenching station. A container is mounted on the vehicle for providing a smoke-tight environment around the housing, the container having a door for permitting a cake of hot coke to be pushed into the housing. Guide means are provided for establishing a smoke-tight passage between a selected oven and the container so that a cake of hot coke may be pushed into the housing through the guide means without polluting the surrounding environment. A method is also disclosed for providing a pollution free transfer of hot coke from an oven into a coke-receiving housing of a coke-carrying vehicle for transportation of the coke to a remote coke-quenching tower. The method comprises the steps of providing a smoke-tight passage between the oven and the housing, and pushing the hot coke out of the oven into the housing through the passage.

E. PRIES July 24, 1973 POLLUTION FREE DISCHARGING AND QUENCHING SYSTEM Filed June 10, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 II fl INVENTOR ERICH PRIESS E. FRIES July 14,1973

POLLUTION FREE DISCHARGING AND QUENCHING SYSTEM Filed June 10, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

FIG. 7

MM H INVENTOR ERICH DRIESS E. PRIES Jul 24, 1973 POLLUTION FREE DISCHARGING AND QUENCHING SYSTEM Filed me 10, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ERICH PRESS July 24, 1973 E. FRIES 3,748,235

POLLUTION FREE DISCHARGING AND QUENCHING SYSTEM Filed June 10, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. II. V

IINVENTOR I ERICH PRIESS E. FRIES July 24, 1913 POLLUTION FREE DISCHARGING AND QUENCHING SYSTEM Filed June 10, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ERICH PRIESS a 3 wt United States Patent ce U.S. Cl. 202227 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLGSURE An apparatus for receiving a cake of hot coke from a selected one of a battery of coke ovens and for transporting the coke to a remote coke quenching station in an essentially pollution-free manner includes a vehicle adapted to be driven to a selected coke oven and thence to the coke quenching station. A housing is carried on the vehicle for receiving a cake of hot coke from an oven, the interior dimensions of the housing conforming substantially to the interior dimensions of the selected oven. The housing has grated side Walls to expose a substantial portion of a coke cake disposed therein to the spray generated at the coke quenching station. A container is mounted on the vehicle for providing a smoke-tight environment around the housing, the container having a door for permitting a cake of hot coke to be pushed into the housing. Guide means are provided for establishing a smoke-tight passage between a selected oven and the container so that a cake of hot coke may be pushed into the housing through the guide means without polluting the surrounding environment.

A method is also disclosed for providing a pollutionfree transfer of hot coke from an oven into a coke-receiving housing of a coke-carrying vehicle for transportation of the coke to a remote coke-quenching tower. The metb od comprises the steps of providing a smoke-tight passage between the oven and the housing, and pushing the hot coke out of the oven into the housing through the passage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing coke. More particularly, the invention relates to the transfer of a cake of hot coke from a coke oven to a quenching station located remote from the oven in a manner that essentially eliminates pollution of the surrounding environment.

Description of the prior art In the processing of coke, a coke oven battery is used which consists of a plurality of horizontally stacked oven chambers between which are disposed a corresponding plurality of heating walls. Coal is charged into each of the chambers and then heated to elevated temperatures of the order of 1000" C. for a predetermined time, whereby the coal is carbonized to form coke.

When the coal has been converted into coke, the coking chamber must be emptied. In this regard, the doors at opposing ends of the coking chamber are removed and the coke is pushed out of the chamber in a horizontal direction by means of a pusher machine. The cake of hot coke passes through a conventional guide which is carried on a coke guide car movable on tracks located adjacent the exit door of the chamber. As the cake of coke is pushed through the guide it then falls into a receiving car located beneath the guide car which is movable on tracks along side the battery of coke ovens.

3,748,235 Patented July 24, 1973 The receiving car generally has an inclined bottom on which the incandescent coke is deposited according to its angle of repose. The receiving car, with the deposited coke charge, travels to a coke quenching tower where the coke is cooled down, i.e. quenched, with a large volume of water Within a short period of time. As soon as quenching is complete, the receiving car travels to a wharf Where the coke is discharged by gravity through doors in the floor of the car which are opened. When the moisture has been allowed to evaporate, the cooled coke is then transported from the wharf to handling or loading plants.

The above method and apparatus for processing and handling coke, although eifective in producing coke of a desirable quality and nature, has two major disadvantages. For one, the incandescent, dry coke leaves the coke guide at a temperature of about 1000 C. and then drops into the receiving car from a relatively large height. This generates a considerable amount of dust and gas which freely escape into the atmosphere and are a nuisance to the surrounding environment. It is desirable to eliminate or substantially reduce such pollution.

The second disadvantage relates to an excessive amount of water left on the quenched coke following evaporation, which excess water contributes to inefiicient subsequent utilization. More specifically, since the coke charge is dropped into the receiving car according to its angle of repose, the height of the coke charge in the receiving cars is not uniform over the length and width of the car. In other words, the coke volume stored in the receiving car per unit area varies. For constructural reasons, the amount of water sprayed on the incandescent coke charge in the coke quenching tower, however, is the same per unit area. Thus, the coke in the receiving car is saturated with water according to its height thereby causing a variance in the Water content of the quenched coke not only in the vertical direction, but also with regard to unit area. It is, therefore, desirable to quench the coke in a manner such that, in a cold condition, it possesses a relatively low content of water thereby decreasing the amount of heat needed in the metallurgical process to follow.

There is presently known a coke receiving car for use in the above-described coke processing system (the Schondeling car). This car has proven successful in substantially eliminating the second disadvantage above alluded to. More specifically, the Schondeling car has a container mounted thereon and into which a cake of hot coke is pushed. The container has interior dimensions substantially identical to the oven chamber (and thus the coke cake) so that the shape of the cake is maintained. The container is usually defined by a metallic grated structure so that the coke cake is exposed to the atmosphere. The Schondeling car includes means for rotating the container degrees about its longitudinal axis so that the side of the coke having the largest surface area may be brought into maximum exposure below a water spraying facility of the coke quenching station.

During quenching, therefore, the coke cake has its greatest dimensioned surface area fully exposed to the water spray facility. Additionally, the height of the coke relative to the spray facility is small so that the coke may be quenched with less water in a shorter period of time thereby decreasing the water content of the coke after quenching and evaporation. Notwithstanding this beneficial feature of the Schondeling car, the nuisance and pollution caused by the smoke and dust occurring upon the emergence of the coke cake into the atmosphere (the red hot coke igniting into flames as soon as it is exposed to oxygen) has not been eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION advantages. The basic teaching of the Schondeling car, i.e. rotating the coke cake 90 to reduce excessive water saturation, has been employed together with a unique guide assembly for transferring the coke car between oven and receiving vehicle in a pollution-free manner.

Generally speaking, the present invention is directed primarily to an apparatus for receiving a cake of hot coke from a selected one of a battery of coke ovens and for transporting the coke to remote coke quenching station where the coke is stayed and cooled. The apparatus is characterized in providing an essentially smoke free reception of the hot coke from the oven and during its transportation to the coke quenching station.

More specifically, the apparatus according to this invention comprises a vehicle adapted to be driven to a selected coke oven and then to the coke quenching station. A housing is carried on the vehicle for receiving a cake of hot coke from a selected oven, the interior dimensions of the housing conforming substantially to the interior dimenscions of the selected oven. The housing has grated side walls to expose a substantial portion of a coke cake disposed therein to a spray facility at the quenching station. A container is mounted on the vehicle for providing a smoke-tight environment around the housing, the container including a door which, when opened, permits the coke cake to be pushed into the housing. Additionally, guide means are provided for establishing a smoke-tight passage between a selected oven and the container so that a cake of hot coke may be pushed into the housing through the guide means without polluting the surrounding environment.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the guide means comprises a pair of guide members selectively movable from a retracted position to an extended position, the members being configured to form a smoke-tight passage when in an extended position. The guide members are mounted directly on the vehicle and may be extended outwardly of the vehicle toward a selected oven to which the vehicle was driven.

In another embodiment of this invention, the guide means includes a guide car which may be driven in a direction parallel with the vehicle between the vehicle and the battery of ovens. The guide members are mounted on the guide car for extension outwardly of the car at one end toward the container door and outwardly of the car at the other end toward an adjacent oven chamber.

The present invention is also directed to a method for providing a substantially pollution free transfer of hot coke from an oven in to a coke-receiving housing of a coke-carrying vehicle for transportation of the coke to a remote coke quenching tower. The method comprises the steps of providing a smoke-tight passage between the oven and the housing, and pushing the hot coke out of the oven into the housing through the passage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other aspects and advantages of this invention are more clearly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of a portion of a coke processing system of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the system of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a blown up cross sectional view of the housing of the receiving car of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a blown-up view of a side wall of the housing of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the housing of FIG. 3 taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view of a side wall of the housing of FIG. 3 shown partly in plan and partly in section taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the receiving car of FIG. 1 as seen from the oven battery and wherein the guide means carried on the receiving car of FIG. 1 is in its retracted position;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the receiving car of FIG. 7 showing the guide means only when in their retracted position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, with the guide means shown in their extended position;

'FIG. 10 is an end elevation view of the guide walls of FIG. 9 as seen from the battery of coke ovens;

FIG. 11 is a side cross sectional view of a coke quenching tower shown interconnected with the coke receiving car of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view through coke quenching tower taken along lines 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation view of the coke quenching tower as seen from the path of the receiving car;

FIG. 14 is a side cross sectional representation of another coke processing system according to this invention; and

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the coke receiving car of FIG. 14. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS A coke oven battery 10 of conventional design is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Battery 19 includes a plurality of spaced apart, side-by-side oven chambers 12 which are separated from each other by heating walls 14. Oven chambers 12 may be charged with line coal through filling holes 16 delined in a roof 18. This may be accomplished by means of a conventional coal larry car (not shown). As is well known, the brick work of battery It; is braced on both sides by buckstays 20 which are themselves braced by continuous anchoring bars 22.

An oven platform 24 is constructed immediately adjacent what shall be thereinafter referred to as the coke quenching side of oven chamber 12. Platform 24 has a planar upper surface 26 which is disposed a predetermined distance beneath the lower edge of each of oven chambers 12. The elongate extent of platform 24 is substantially equal to that of oven battery 10. A similar platform 28 is disposed immediately adjacent what shall hereinafter be referred to as the pusher side of oven chamber 12. Oven platform carries rails 25 along which a guide car 27 rides. The significance of guide car 24 is explained below.

As is well known, each oven chamber 12 is designed with a pair of opposing doors (not clearly shown). One door is on the coke quenching side of the oven and the other door is on the pusher side of the oven.

A pusher assembly 30 is movably mounted adjacent the pusher side of oven chamber 12. More specifically assembly 30 travels on rails 32 by means of wheels 34 carried at the bottom of vertical support walls 36. Rails 32 are embedded in a foundation adjacent the foundation of oven battery 10. Pusher assembly 30 includes a push rod 38 having a pusher head 49 mounted on an end thereof adjacent oven battery 10. Push rod 38 is supported by walls 36 and may be operated by a conventional drive mechanism (not shown) to cause the rod to move toward the oven so that pusher head 40 enters a selected oven chamber 12 and thereby pushes the hot coke contained in such oven out of the oven chamber. Thus, the vertical height of pusher head 40 is substantially identical to that of each of oven chambers 12. Precise horizontal positioning of pusher assembly 30 may be controlled in accordance with known techniques so that any desired oven chamber 12 may be cleared of the coke charge therein contained.

An important aspect of the present invention is the provision of a unique coke-receiving and carrying vehicle 42. Vehicle 42 and its component parts will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 7. Receiving car 42 is a generally rectangular structure having a planar rectangular base portion 44 to which four wheels 46 are mounted to the lower surface 48 thereof. Wheels 46 are adapted to ride along guide rails 50. Vehicle 42 may thus be moved along the battery of coke ovens and may be stopped adjacent any particular selected oven chamber. The drive means for vehicle 42 is located in a control cab 52 supported in the upper portion of the receiving car and being accessible by a stairway 54. The particular means used to drive vehicle 42 is conventional in nature an is thus not described herein.

Vehicle 42 includes a heat resistant box like container 58 having a pair of opposing end doors 6% and 62. Container 58 is supported vertically by a plurality of space I-beams 59. When doors 60 and 62 are closed, container 58 forms a smoke-tight enclosure about a cokereceiving housing 64 which is fixed to a movable carriage 66. Carriage 66 has a plurality of wheels 68 mounted to the underside thereof, the wheels enabling the carriage to ride freely along rails 70. In this manner housing 64 is movable relative to vehicle 42. As will be described in more detail below, the purpose of having housing 64 movable is so that it may be pushed (with hot coke contained therein) along track 70 of vehicle 42 and into a coke quenching tower (described below).

In actuality, as is well known, alternate coking chambers 12 are pushed from opposite sides thus requiring pushers on both sides of battery 16, as well as coke receiving and carrying cars. However, for simplicity of illustration and description, as well as for clarity of understanding, only one pusher and one quenching car are shown, and the following description will be directed to one selected coking chamber 12.

FIGS. 3-6 more completely depict the structural features of housing 64. Referring to those figures, it can be seen that housing 64 is defined primarily by a pair of upstanding side walls 72. Walls 72 are parallel and are each defined by a grid-like structure composed of a plurality of horizontally positioned and vertically aligned elongated members, such as pipes 72. Each side wall 72 is thus in the form of a grating so that water may be sprayed on the partly exposed hot coke contained between the side walls. The distance between side guide Walls 72 is substantially equal to the thickness of each of oven chambers 12 so that a cake of hot coke pushed out of a chamber and into housing 64 will be snugly contained therein so that the shape of the cake remains essentially constant. The floor of housing 64 is defined by an upper surface 76 of carriage 66, whereas as a separate roof 78 is fixed across the upper extent of housing 64 between side guide wall 72.

Coke receiving housing 64 has a normally open end 80 and a normally closed end 82. The latter end is closed by a wall 84 which, similar to side guide wall 72., is constructed as a grate with the use of horizontall laid and vertically spaced segments of rectangularly shaped pipe.

The precise manner of forming wall 82 and each of side guide wall 72 may be seen from an examination of FIG. 4 which shows, in cross section, a pair of adjacent sections of vertically spaced and horizontally positioned pipe segments 74. The pair of pipe segments are joined in adjacent relation through the use of an elongate member, such as I-beam 86. A plurality of I-beams 86 are spaced along the length of housing 64 so as to join adjacent segments of pipes 74.

Pipe segments 74 are fixed in the position shown in FIG. 4 as by bolting an inner flange 90 of I-beam 86 to each pair of adjacent pipe segments. A pair of elongate members such as angle irons 92 is used in such bolting, each associated with a distinct section of vertically spaced pipe segments 74. Angle irons 92 serve to align vertically the pipe segments of a particular section of an adjacent pair of pipe segment sections. Then an I-beam 86 may be bolted to this adjacent pair of pipe segment sections through the respective pair of angle irons in the manner shown in FIG. 4.

When the pair of sections of pipe segments are so bolted, a space '94 is left between each pair of adjacent pipes 74. Space 94 has approximately the same height as does each pipe segment 74, thereby contributing to the formation of a grate-like structure for each of side guide walls 72.

Housing 64 has a normally open end which can be selectively closed and locked by a grid-lock 96. There are a plurality of grid locks 96 spaced vertically along open end 80. Each grid lock 96 comprises a pair of grid shears 98 which can be noted in closed position in FIGS. 3 and 5. The opening and closing of grid shears 98 is occasioned by toggle levers having arms 100* and 102, arms 100' being pivotal around pivot hinge 104. This pivotal motion is generated by movement of a piston rod 106 connected at one end to the free end of arm 102 and at the other end to a piston which is guided within a hydraulic cylinder 108.

To summarize the operation and function of coke receiving housing 64: coke receiving vehicle 42 is driven adjacent a selected oven chamber 12, i.e. open end of housing 64 being aligned with said selected oven chamber; grid lock 96 is then actuated to open the plurality of grid shears 98 to expose the interior of housing 64 to the oven; pusher assembly 36 is then operated to push a cake of hot coke from the selected oven chamber into the housing where, as soon as the pusher head is retracted from the housing, the grid shears are closed thereby locking the cake of hot coke within the housing. As will be described in detail below, vehicle 42 is then driven to a coke quenching station into which housing 64 is transferred, rotating 90 about its longitudinal axis thereby to expose one of side guide wall 72 to a spray facility carried there-above within the coke quenching station. The grate like structure of this side guide wall exposes the coke to the spray facility along a substantial portion of its area thereby lessening residual water in the coke cake following evaporation.

A significant aspect of the present invention is the ability to transfer a cake of hot coke from an oven chamber into housing 64 with little or no pollution of the surrounding atmosphere. In each embodiment of this invention, the above is accomplished by means of a guide assembly which may be arranged to provide a smoke-tight passage directly between the door of a selected oven chamber and door 60 of smoke-tight container 58.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 7-l0, the guide assembly is defined primarily by a pair of side walls 110 and 112. Each side wall is preferably fabricated of heat resistant sheet metal or the like and is disposed at an angle oblique to an imaginary line intermediate of the two walls which is perpendicular to the path of travel of the vehicle 42. Preferably the angles at which the side walls are disposed relative to such imaginary line are identical.

A sheet metal roof plate 114 having an elongate extent equal to that of side wall 110 is joined to the upper peripheral extent of side wall 110 by a plurality of angle brackets 116 spacially disposed along the elongate extent of the roof plate and side wall 110 Roof plate 114 is in the shape of a truncated right triangle with its hypotenuse defined by side wall 11 and its longer leg 118 disposed in parallel relation with the aforementioned imaginary line. Similarly, a sheet metal roof plate 120 is mounted to the upper peripheral extent of side wall 112 by means of spacially oriented bracket members 122 arranged substant ally identically as that of bracket members 116. Addit onally, sheet metal roof 120 is in the form of a truncated righttriangle with its hypotenuse defined by side wall 112 and its longer leg 1124 disposed parallel to leg 118 of triangular roof plate 114.

The vertical extent of side wall 110 is slightly less than that of side wall 112 so that the plane of roof plate 114 lies slightly below the plane of roof plate 120. This enables side walls 110 and @112 to be moved toward each other in an unobstructed manner with their corresponding roof plates overlapping one another. Each side wall and its associated roof plate forms a half section of the overall guide assembly. Both half sections are movable between a retracted position shown in FIG. 8 and an extended position shown in FIG. 9. The half sections are moved from the retracted to the extended position by means of apparatus which is described below.

At this point, however, it should be noted that in the extended position (FIG. 9) roof plate 120' overlaps roof plate 114. Furthermore ends 126 and 128 of roof plates 114 and 120 may be moved into a butting engagement with battery i111 with guide car 27 being moved into position adjacent the selected oven chamber 12 to provide support for that portion of the guide assembly extended out past vehicle 42. In the extended position, ends 126 and 128 units to form a rectangular passageway slightly greater in width than that of each of oven chambers 12 thereby defining a smoke-tight tubular passageway through the guide assembly. A cake of hot coke may then be pushed into housing 64 through the tubular passage defined by the now joined half sections.

Referring now to the manner in which each guide assembly half section is moved from a retracted to an extended position, a guide frame 130 is provided for such purpose. Frame .130 is defined by a pair of elongate guide members, such as U-shaped channel rods 132 and 134, respectively associated with side walls 110 and 112. Rods 132 and 134 form a pair of oblique tracks in which a wheel or ball bearing is adapted to ride. More specifically, a plurality of extending rod members 136 each having ball bearings 138 rotatably mounted at the ends thereof are suspended from the lower surfaces of roof plates 114 and 126 at spaced locations therealong and at a distance from the associated side walls 116 or 112 such that the ball bearings 138 ride within their associated channels 132 or 134. It must be noted that 'U-shaped channel rods 132 and 134 are each disposed at the identical oblique angle as their associated side walls 110 and 112, respectively. Channel rods 132 and 134 are supported by means of spaced slats 140 each being disposed parallel to the path of travel of vehicle 42 and each being fixedly mounted to the upper surface of box like container 58.

Any conventional drive means may be employed to simultaneously move each half section of the guide assembly along tracks 132 and .134 from and between extended and retracted positions. The use of such drive mecham'sm is within the contemplation of those skilled in the art and is therefore not specified in detail herein. In order to insure guiding of walls 110 and 112 during movement of the guide assembly between retracted and extended positions, a pair of oblique guide rails 142 and 144 are mounted to vehicle 42. The lower peripheral extent of each side wall is designed to ride along its associated guide rail thereby insuring stability.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, one can see the path of travel of the guide assembly between a retracted position, with roof plates 114 and 120 spaced apart, and an extended position with the roof plates overlapping and their ends 126 and 128 forming the inlet to a smoked tight passageway in the manner above described.

Thus far, the apparatus and manner for transferring a hot coke charge from a selected oven chamber into housing 64, without subjecting the surrounding environment to polluting elements, has been described. With the coke cake in housing 64, vehicle 42 is driven along tracks 50 until it pulls up adjacent a coke quenching tower 146. Tower 146 is located remote from oven battery 1% and is usually positioned on the opposite side of tracks 50 from such battery.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 11 through 13, coke quenching tower 146 is of a conventional nature and comprises a rectangular shaped ibase foundation 148 and inverted funnel shaped tower chamber 150. A rectangular opening 152 is provided through an end wall of foundation 48 located immediately adjacent rails 50. Opening 152 has slightly larger dimensions than that of housing 64 and includes a set of rails 154 essentially identical to rails 50 on vehicle 42 so that housing 64 may be transferred smoothly and continuously from vehicle 42 into coke quenching tower 146. Opening 152 is further fabricated with a door (not shown) which may be closed in order to make tower 146 smoke-tight.

It is important that housing 64 be slowly yet precisely transferred from vehicle 42 to within tower 146. This is done by providing an alignment between rails 50 on vehicle 42 and rails 154 in quenching tower 146. Vehicle 42 carries a pair of pinions 156 which are adapted to engage a corresponding pair of drive bars 158 which are mounted on housing 64. A corresponding pair of pinions 160 are carried in coke quenching tower 146 and are positioned to also engage drive bars 158 as housing 64 is introduced into the tower through opening 152.

It is important to provide a smoke-tight passageway between receiving vehicle 42 and coke quenching tower 146 just as it is important to do so between vehicle 42 and oven battery 10. In this regard another guide assembly similar to that comprised by oblique side walls 111 and 112 may be carried on vehicle 42 to provide a smoketight passage between the vehicle and the coke quenching tower when in an extended position. This additional guide assembly is labeled element 162 and is shown in phantom only in 'FIG. 2 for purposes of simplicity. It should be realized, however, that the guide assembly 162 comprises the identical structure to that used to provide a smoketight passage between oven battery 10 and receiving car 42.

Coke quenching tower 146 contains a rotary tipper assembly 164 which is defined by a pair of angular members 166, the angular position of which is controlled by a pair of drive rollers 168 for each of angular members 166. Tipper assembly 164 further is defined by the usual horizontal connecting bars 170. Tipper assembly 164 is designed to be rotated about its longitudinal axis in order to bring housing 64 contained therein from a vertical to a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 12. Coke quenching tower 146 further includes a water spray facility 172 mounted at the lower portion of tower 150 and which contains a plurality of water spray nozzles 174.

The puropse of rotating housing 64 90 from a vertical to a horizontal position is to expose the maximum area of the coke to the liquid spray nozzles so that the coke may be cooled quickly with a relatively small amount of water, thereby leaving a relatively slight water residumm following the evaporation stage of the process.

Once the coke has been quenched, the housing may be returned to a vertical position and then moved out of the coke quenching tower 146 and back into container 58 on vehicle 42. Receiving vehicle 42 is then driven to a wharf 176 where quenched coke may be discharged therein by opening a lower door 178' of housing 64 and a corresponding lower door 180 of container 58. The quenched coke is guided into wharf 176 by means of two pairs of guide walls 182. Guide walls 182 are carried by and beneath container 58 and serve to limit the regions in which the quenched coke may descend. Additionally, they protect the under carriage of vehicle 42.

Quenched coke entering wharf 176 lands on ramp 184 and then slides down until hitting a lengthwise extending plate 186 where a plurality of cooled coke cakes pile up. From here, the coke cakes are stripped oif by means of a cleaner assembly 188. The coke then passes onto a conveyor belt 190 where the coke may be delivered to evaporating stations and thence to subsequent handling or loading plants.

In summary, the system of FIGS. 1 through 13 operates as follows: Coal is charged into oven chambers 12 of battery 10 through hole 16. After the coal is thermally converted to coke it is pushed out of each chamber sequentially by means of pusher assembly 30. The hot coke cake passes into housing 64 carried on receiving vehicle 42. Grid shears 98 are then closed to lock the hot coke cake within the housing. Door 60 of box-like container 58 is then closed to provide a smoke-tight environment about housing 64. Vehicle 42 is then driven to coke quenching station 146 where doors 60 and 62 of container 58 are opened and housing is pushed out of the container and into the coke quenching tower. The housing is then rotated 90 about its longitudinal axis to thereby expose a major surface of the coke cake to the spray facility of the tower. After the coke is cooled, the housing is returned to a vertical position and is then transferred back into container 58 where it is then transported by vehicle 42 to wharf 176 where it is deposited by opening doors 178 and 180. Vehicle 42 may then be returned to the location of oven battery in order to pick up another cake of hot coke from a difierent coking chamber 12, and the process is then repeated.

Another coke processing system of this invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Basically, all of the main elements of this system are essentially identical to that of the system of FIGS. 1-13. There are two differences, however. For one, a different type of coke receiving vehicle 192 is used, and secondly, the manner of establishing a smoke-tight passage between the oven chambers and a coke receiving housing 194 carried on vehicle 192 differs.

Referring first to vehicle 192, it is similar to vehicle 42 in that it has a base foundation 44' on the underside 48 prime of which is carried a plurality of wheels 46. The wheels are adapted to ride in a corresponding one of a pair of guide tracks 50'. This enables vehicle 192 to be driven along tracks 50 between the battery of coke ovens and a coke quenching tower (not shown). In this system, the quenching tower is positioned above the path of travel of vehicle 192 for the reasons described below.

Vehicle 192 includes a box-like container 196, which container has a door 198 adapted to face the battery of ovens. Container 1% is pivotally mounted to vehicle 192 by means of hinge assembly 198. Container 196 further includes a normally closed side double door 200 which may be opened to expose the interior of container 196. Fixedly mounted within container 196 is a housing 202 which is essentially identical to housing 64 of the previously described embodiment, i.e. it has grating like side walls and a grid lock assembly.

The normal position of container 196 is in a vertical position as shown by the solid line representation thereof in FIG. 15. In this position, and when vehicle 192 is driven adjacent a particular oven chamber 12, a cake of hot coke in such chamber may be pushed out into housing 202, the oven facing door of container 196 being first opened. After the cake of hot coke is pushed into the housing, and then container 196 is pivoted into a horizontal position followed by the opening of double doors 200 to expose a side of housing 202 and thus a major area of the hot coke. In such position quenching of the coke takes place and, as before, a limited quantity of water may be used resulting in less saturation and smaller retention.

A smoke-tight passage may be provided between a selected oven chamber and the oven facing door of container 196 by employing a guide vehicle 204 which is adapted to ride on tracks 206 defined on oven platform 24. A pair of slidable passage-forming-members 206 and 208, which may have a square shaped configuration, are mounted on guide vehicle 204. More specifically, members 206 and 208 are slidable relative to each other and are mounted in overlapping relationship. Thus, the overall elongate extent of the tubular passage defined by members 206 and 208 may be varied. Members 206 and 208 may be slid between a normally retracted position wherein member 206 is contained completely within member 208, to an extended position wherein member 206 is moved outwardly of guide vehicle 204 in a direction toward receiving vehicle 192 and member 208 is moved outwardly of guide vehicle 204 in a direction toward a selected oven chamber. The height and width of each of members 206 and 208 conforms substantially to the interior dimensions of the oven chambers and housing 194, but is slightly larger so that a cake of hot coke may be smoothly transferred between the oven and housing in smoke-tight relationship. Any particular means for controlling position of members 206 and 208 may be used. The exact such means used and the system of FIGS. 14 and 15 is not shown for purposes of simplicity.

No such similar smoke-tight passage means, as provided by guide vehicle 204 and members 206 and 208, is needed when transporting the hot coke into the quenching tower. This is true since the entire receiving vehicle 192 is driven under the tower and the container 196 is rotated into a horizontal position and then opened to expose the housing containing the coke therein. It is not necessary for the housing to be moved out of the container and into the coke quenching station.

The particular arrangements shown and described above have been presented for the purposes of example and illustration in furtherance of an explanation of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing description should not be regarded as limiting the invention precisely to that which has been described and shown. Rather, the invention is to be defined in terms of its scope by the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for receiving a cake of hot coke from a selected oven of a battery of coke ovens and for transporting the coke to a remote coke-quenching station in an essentially pollution-free manner, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a vehicle adapted to be driven to a selected coke oven and thence to the coke-quenching station;

(b) a housing carried by the vehicle for receiving a cake of hot coke from a selected oven, the interior dimensions of the housing conforming substantially to the interior dimensions of the selected oven; the housing having grated side Walls to expose a substantial portion of a coke cake disposed therein;

(0) a container mounted on the vehicle for providing a smoke-tight environment around the housing, the container having a first end door which, when opened, permits a cake of hot coke to be pushed into the housing, and

(d) guide means cooperating with the vehicle means for providing a smoke-tight passage between said selected oven and the container so that as cake of hot coke is pushed into the housing, the surrounding environment remains essentially pollution free,

(e) means permitting said first end door to be opened and closed while said guide means are providing a smoke-tight passage between said selected oven and said housing whereby to permit the transfer of coke to be effected without leakage of smoke.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a carriage movably mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the housing is mounted on the carriage, and the container has a second end door opposite the first end door and through which the housing may be pushed on its carriage into the coke-quenching station.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is fixed to the vehicle within the container and includes a grated side wall, and wherein the container includes a side door which opens to expose the grated side wall so that coke container within said housing may be quenched at the coke-quenching station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide means includes a pair of guide members selectively movable from a retracted to an extended position, the guide members being configured to form a smoke-tight tubular passage when in an extended position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pair of guide members are mounted on the vehicle and may be extended 1 1 l2 outwardly of the vehicle toward a selected oven to which 9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the coke-quenchthe vehicle has driven. ing station comprises:

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the guide means (a) a selectively operable liquid spray facility; further includes a guide car which may be driven in a (b) means for receiving the housing when it is pushed direction parallel to the vehicle and which is disposed 5 therein from the container; and, between the vehicle and the battery of ovens, the pair of (0) means cooperating with the receiving means for roguide members being mounted on the guide car for extentating the housing until one of the housing side walls sion outwardly of the car at one end toward the first end faces the liquid spray facility, the facility then :being door of the container and outwardly of the car at the other operated to quench the coke. end toward an adjacent oven.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: References C t d (f) a coke-quenching station located remote of the ovens UNITED STATES PATENTS and including means for receiving the vehicle therewithin, the vehicle further including means for ro- 755154 3/1904 Moore '7 202 227 tatin the container into a desired coke uenchin 1424777 8/1922 Schondehng 202-227 d 3,652,403 3/1972 Knappstein et a1. 202 230 PO81 all 3,547,782 12/1970 Schon 202--263 (g) means for defining a smoke-tight interconnection v between the container of the vehicle and the rece-ivzgggg ig means of the coke quenching station so that the receiving means of the vehicle may be pushed into NQRMAN YUDKOFF Primary Examiner the station Without polluting the surrounding environment D. EDWARDS, Assistant Examiner 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing and container each has a normally closed door which may be opened to discard quenched coke from the vehicle. 202-263; 214--18 R U.S. Cl. X.R. 

